United States: Country Report | 2024

AI Generated Analysis based on UNHCR Forced Displacement Statisitics.

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Executive Summary

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Key Trends: A Nation at the Epicenter of Regional Displacement

The United States is grappling with a profound and accelerating shift in forced displacement, hosting a record 3.62 million people of concern by mid-2024. This dramatic increase is driven almost entirely by an unprecedented number of individuals seeking asylum. The population awaiting a decision on their claims swelled by over 580,000 in a single year, now totaling nearly 3.2 million people. This surge reflects sustained crises across the Americas and places the U.S. at the forefront of the hemisphere’s protection challenges.

This historic influx has placed national asylum systems under extraordinary strain. A widening gap between the volume of new applications and the capacity to process them has created a substantial and growing backlog. For hundreds of thousands of individuals and families, this translates into prolonged and agonizing uncertainty, undermining their ability to rebuild their lives in safety. The sheer scale of pending cases represents one of the most significant humanitarian and logistical challenges in the region, demanding urgent and innovative responses.

Yet, amidst these immense pressures, a story of hope and progress is emerging on durable solutions. In a remarkable reversal of recent trends, the United States has dramatically scaled up its resettlement and naturalization pathways. In 2024, over 105,000 people were provided with a durable solution—an eleven-fold increase from the nadir in 2020. This landmark achievement, spurred by enhanced political will and resources, demonstrates that with focused commitment, it is possible to move people from precarity to permanence. This success serves as a critical and powerful example that must inspire similar action globally.

Population Overview

United States of America: A Shifting Displacement Landscape

By mid-2024, the United States of America hosted an estimated 3.62 million people of concern to UNHCR, including refugees, asylum-seekers, and other individuals in need of international protection. The data reveals a significant and accelerating increase in the overall population of concern over the past five years, underscoring the country’s role as a major destination for those fleeing persecution and violence.

The primary driver of this growth is the dramatic expansion of the ‘Others of concern to UNHCR’ category. This group, which in the context of the United States largely comprises individuals who have sought protection but are awaiting a decision on their asylum claims, swelled by more than 580,000 people between 2023 and 2024 alone. This constitutes a rise of 22.4 per cent in a single year and brings this specific population to nearly 3.2 million, representing 88 per cent of all people of concern in the country. This surge reflects sustained displacement trends affecting the Americas region.

Behind these stark numbers lies a demographic profile weighted towards adults. A snapshot of over 600,000 forcibly displaced and stateless persons indicates that the 18-59 age group forms the largest cohort for both males and females. This age structure points to a population with significant potential to contribute to their host communities, but also highlights the need for protection mechanisms and integration support tailored to working-age individuals and their families.

While smaller in comparison to those awaiting claims, the recognized refugee population in the United States reflects the enduring impact of protracted crises elsewhere in the world. The composition of this group is characterized by a significant concentration of refugees from a single country of origin, who number over 171,000. Taken together, these trends illustrate a dynamic and rapidly evolving protection landscape, emphasizing the critical importance of fair and efficient asylum systems to manage new arrivals while continuing to provide durable solutions for established refugee communities.

Demographics

AI Insight: Treemap of Populations of Concern in the United States of America, where ‘Others of concern’ make up the vast majority of the 3.62 million total population., This treemap visualizes the composition of the 3,619,000 individuals classified as Populations of Concern by UNHCR in the United States of America as of 2024. Each population category is represented by a rectangle, with its area directly proportional to the number of individuals it contains.

The data is overwhelmingly dominated by the ‘Others of concern’ category, which numbers 3,184,162 individuals. This single group accounts for approximately 88% of the total population of concern in the country.

The remaining groups are significantly smaller. The statistical profile indicates the presence of ‘Asylum-seekers’ as the next largest category, followed by smaller populations of ‘Refugees’ and ‘Stateless persons’. Categories not applicable to the context of the United States, such as ‘Internally displaced persons (IDPs)’, ‘Returned refugees’, and ‘Returned IDPs’, show zero individuals and are therefore either not visible or have no area in the treemap.

AI Insight: Population pyramid of 601,691 forcibly displaced and stateless persons in the United States of America by age and gender as of 2024, where the largest cohort for both males and females is the 18-59 age group., This population pyramid illustrates the demographic breakdown of 601,691 individuals under UNHCR’s mandate in the United States of America, with data current as of 2024. The population encompasses refugees (REF), asylum-seekers (ASY), internally displaced persons (IDP), other people in need of international protection (OIP), stateless persons (STA), and others of concern (OOC). The data has 100% gender disaggregation.

The vertical axis categorizes the population into five age groups: 0-4, 5-11, 12-17, 18-59, and 60+. The horizontal axis displays the count of individuals, with males on the left and females on the right.

Statistically, the pyramid shows a concentration in the adult working-age cohort. The 18-59 age group is the largest for both males and females, forming the widest section of the pyramid. The number of children and adolescents (ages 0-17) is smaller in comparison, and the elderly population (60+) represents the smallest cohort. This distribution suggests a population structure heavily weighted towards adults.

Trends Over Time

AI Insight: Column chart of population of concern by type in the United States of America from 2019 to 2024, where the total number has increased dramatically, driven by a significant surge in the ‘Others of concern to UNHCR’ category., This column chart displays the number of people of concern (in thousands) in the United States of America, broken down by six population types, for each year from 2019 to 2024. The data reveals a substantial overall increase in the total population of concern during this period. The statistical profile shows a maximum value of over 3.1 million for a single population group in one year, while the mean is approximately 360,000 and the median is zero. This disparity indicates that the growth is not uniform across all categories but is instead concentrated in one or two specific groups. The primary driver of this increase is the ‘Others of concern to UNHCR’ category. Other categories, such as ‘Returned IDPs’ (consistently zero) and ‘Returned Refugees’ (peaking at 15,021 but often zero), are negligible in comparison, making the surge in ‘Others of concern’ the most significant feature of the data.

AI Insight: Bar chart of population changes in the United States between 2023 and 2024, where one population group increased by over 580,000 people, while others saw significantly smaller changes., This bar chart provides a comparative analysis of the size of six distinct UNHCR-monitored population groups in the United States of America, showing the absolute and percentage changes between 2023 and 2024.

Statistical Analysis: The data reveals a significant overall increase in the population of concern, primarily driven by one group. - The most substantial change is an increase of 582,695 individuals in a single population category, which grew from 2,601,467 in 2023 to 3,184,162 in 2024, a 22.4% rise. - In contrast, the changes for the other five groups were far more modest. The 75th percentile for absolute change (diffabs) is 19,598, indicating that the majority of groups experienced fluctuations of less than 20,000 people. - The chart’s title, ‘Increases and Decreases’, confirms that while some populations grew, at least one experienced a reduction in size during this period.

Context and Interpretation: The primary insight from this visualization is the disproportionate growth of one specific population group, which is likely asylum-seekers, given recent displacement trends affecting the region. This single group’s expansion accounts for the vast majority of the net change in the total population of concern in the United States. The smaller changes, including decreases, in other groups may reflect variations in refugee resettlement quotas, processing times, or other protection pathways.

AI Insight: Horizontal bar chart of refugee populations in the United States by country of origin in 2024, where the largest group, with 171,002 people, is significantly larger than the other top origins., This horizontal bar chart presents the top nine countries of origin for refugees in the United States for the year 2024. The data is composed of 10 entries, which includes the top 9 countries and likely a consolidated ‘Others’ category. The number of refugees per origin ranges from a minimum of 14,022 to a maximum of 171,002. The distribution is heavily right-skewed, with one country of origin accounting for the largest population. The mean number of refugees across these groups is 43,533, while the median is 28,290. The large difference between the mean and median, coupled with a high standard deviation of 47,182, underscores the significant concentration of refugees from one primary origin. This visualization is critical for understanding the demographic composition of the refugee population in the U.S., informing targeted programmatic support, and guiding policy decisions.

Geography & Movements

Geography and Movements of Displacement

The geography of forced displacement in 2024 underscores the dual role of the United States as both a major destination for those seeking protection and, to a lesser extent, a country of origin. The analysis reveals complex and often asymmetrical patterns of movement, shaped by evolving global crises and specific protection pathways.

As a host country, the United States continues to receive significant and fluctuating flows of forcibly displaced populations. Data from 2019 to 2025 illustrates the dynamic nature of these arrivals, with the primary countries of origin shifting significantly in response to emerging and escalating conflicts and instability worldwide. While these flows are diverse over time, the composition of the established refugee population at a single point in time tells a different story. The data for 2024 indicates a heavy concentration, with one country of origin accounting for 171,002 refugees. This figure, an outlier that is more than three times that of the next largest groups, highlights the enduring legacy of specific protracted crises on the protection landscape within the country.

Conversely, a less examined but equally telling trend emerges when viewing the United States as a country of origin. The distribution of its displaced populations seeking protection abroad is extraordinarily concentrated. Analysis of asylum destinations reveals that a single host country provides refuge to 60,150 individuals originating from the U.S. This number represents a significant outlier, with the next largest host country receiving fewer than 2,000 people and the median for the top ten destinations standing at just 1,012.

Behind these stark numbers lies a broader global pattern. Across all 41 countries reporting displaced persons from the United States, the data is overwhelmingly skewed. While one nation shoulders the primary responsibility, half of all host countries shelter 17 or fewer individuals. This extreme concentration suggests that specific legal, geographic, or familial factors are driving these highly targeted movements, placing a disproportionate responsibility on a very small number of host nations. These divergent trends—diverse and dynamic inflows versus highly concentrated outflows—paint a complex picture of the United States’ position within the global web of forced displacement.

AI Insight: Choropleth map of global destinations for displaced persons from the United States of America as of 2024, where a few countries host the vast majority of individuals, with the top destination hosting over 4,300 people., This world map visualizes the destination countries for various populations of concern to UNHCR originating from the United States of America as of 2024. The populations include refugees, asylum-seekers, and other people in need of international protection. Countries are color-coded to represent the number of displaced persons they host.

Based on the statistical profile, data is available for 41 destination countries. The distribution of these persons is extremely right-skewed, indicating a high concentration in a few locations. The number of individuals per host country ranges from 5 to a maximum of 4,363. Half of the countries with data host 17 or fewer people (the median), while the average (mean) is significantly higher at 155, influenced by the outliers. Seventy-five percent of the countries host 60 or fewer individuals. The primary insight is the substantial outlier at the top; one country alone hosts 4,363 people, suggesting that specific factors are driving displacement from the U.S. towards a very select group of nations.

Origin of Displaced Populations

AI Insight: Horizontal bar chart of refugees in the United States by their top 9 countries of origin in 2024, where the leading country of origin accounts for 171,002 refugees, a number substantially greater than the other countries listed., This horizontal bar chart displays the number of refugees in the United States in 2024, disaggregated by the top nine countries of origin, with a tenth category for ‘Other’. The vertical axis lists the countries of origin, and the horizontal axis measures the number of people.

Statistically, the data for the ten origin groups is heavily right-skewed. The number of refugees from a single origin ranges from a minimum of 14,022 to a maximum of 171,002. The median number of refugees per origin country is 28,290, which is significantly lower than the average of 43,533. This disparity is driven by the top country of origin, whose refugee population of 171,002 is a clear outlier and is more than three times the 75th percentile value of 43,544. The majority of the listed countries have refugee populations between 16,916 (25th percentile) and 43,544 (75th percentile), indicating a large gap between the top country and all others.

AI Insight: Alluvial diagram of the origin of forcibly displaced populations in the United States from 2019 to 2025, where the volume and composition of origin countries fluctuate significantly over the years., This alluvial diagram illustrates the changing composition of forcibly displaced populations arriving in the United States, broken down by their country of origin, from 2019 to 2025. The visualization tracks flows from 14 distinct countries of origin, with the thickness of each flow representing the number of people in thousands.

Statistically, the data reveals significant variability in the scale of displacement. The number of people from any single country of origin in a given year ranges from a minimum of 7,350 to a substantial maximum of 875,756. The median annual flow from a country is 145,240 people, while the mean is higher at 169,207. This difference indicates a right-skewed distribution, suggesting that a few country-of-origin flows are exceptionally large, pulling the average upward. The chart visually emphasizes how the primary source countries of displaced populations have shifted over this period, providing critical insight into evolving global and regional crises affecting migration patterns to the U.S.

Destination

AI Insight: A vertical bar chart of the top 10 destination countries for forcibly displaced people from the United States of America, where the leading destination hosts over 60,000 individuals, vastly outnumbering the other nine countries., This vertical bar chart illustrates the top 10 countries of asylum for forcibly displaced populations originating from the United States of America, as of 2024. The data reveals a highly skewed distribution among the destination countries.

Of the 10 countries displayed, one country is the primary destination, hosting a population of 60,150. This figure is a significant outlier and represents the vast majority of displaced people in this dataset. The other nine countries host considerably smaller populations. The median number of displaced people across the top 10 countries is 1,012. The range for the remaining nine countries is narrow, with the second-highest destination hosting fewer than 2,000 people and the lowest in this group hosting 394. The large difference between the mean (7,370) and the median (1,012), along with a high standard deviation (18,618), statistically confirms the disproportionate concentration of this displaced population in a single country of asylum.

Asylum System

National Asylum Systems Under Strain

National asylum systems, particularly in major receiving countries, faced unprecedented strain in 2024. The data reveals a system in the United States of America grappling with an extraordinary surge in new asylum applications, with the volume of cases reaching an exceptional peak and far exceeding historical norms within the last six years. The sheer volume of new claims has placed immense pressure on processing capacities.

Behind these stark numbers, the widening gap between new applications filed and decisions rendered illustrates a critical challenge. While national authorities made a significant number of decisions, the pace of new arrivals has far outstripped processing capacity. This has resulted in a substantial and growing backlog of pending cases, prolonging periods of uncertainty for those seeking international protection and stretching institutional resources to their limits.

An analysis of over 3.2 million refugee status determination (RSD) decisions recorded in 2024 illustrates the intricate pathways individuals navigate through the system. The outcomes of these procedures vary significantly. For the ten nationalities with the most decisions, refugee recognition rates ranged from as low as 4 per cent to as high as 37 per cent, underscoring the diverse protection needs and assessment outcomes for different populations. This disparity highlights the complex factors influencing individual case decisions.

This global phenomenon is underscored by the fact that individuals from all nationalities seek protection. While representing a small fraction of global figures, asylum claims lodged by nationals of the United States in other countries highlight the universal nature of the right to seek asylum, with recognition rates reflecting the specific circumstances of individual claims rather than generalized country conditions.

AI Insight: Bar chart of asylum applications and decisions in the United States of America from 2019 to 2024, where the volume of cases shows a dramatic increase, peaking in the most recent years of the period., This bar chart illustrates the number of asylum applications and decisions processed in the United States of America annually from 2019 to 2024. The data is broken down by the stage of the asylum process, providing a comprehensive view of the system’s inputs and outputs over this six-year period. A crucial note clarifies that these figures represent the number of cases, not necessarily unique individuals, as one person may file more than one application.

Statistically, the data reveals significant volatility and a strong upward trend. Across all years and stages, the number of cases ranges from a minimum of 18,177 to an exceptional maximum of 1,189,166. The average number of cases per category per year is 271,472, but the median is considerably lower at 203,349. This discrepancy, along with a high standard deviation of 314,927, indicates a right-skewed distribution. This skew is driven by exceptionally high numbers in one or more recent years, suggesting an unprecedented surge in asylum-related activities towards the end of the reporting period. The data reflects a system under increasing pressure, with a substantial escalation in caseloads that far exceeds historical norms within this timeframe.

AI Insight: Parallel sets plot of Refugee Status Determination Decisions in the United States for 2024, where 3,263,957 decisions are traced through multiple stages, showing the flow of cases from application to final outcome., This parallel sets plot visualizes the flow of 3,263,957 refugee status determination (RSD) decisions recorded in the United States of America during 2024. The chart is structured into three vertical axes, representing distinct stages in the asylum process. Ribbons, or flows, connect these stages, with the thickness of each ribbon being proportional to the number of decisions (individuals) in that specific pathway.

The visualization illustrates how cases move through the determination system. The first stage likely represents the initial application status, which then flows into a second stage detailing the decision-making body or level (e.g., first instance or appeal). The final stage shows the ultimate outcome of the application.

Statistically, the data comprises 132 distinct flows, with the number of decisions per flow varying significantly, from as few as 12 to as many as 387,680. The chart effectively highlights the primary pathways and bottlenecks in the asylum system, allowing for analysis of the proportions of applications that are recognized, rejected, or otherwise closed at different points in the process. This provides a comprehensive overview of the outcomes for individuals seeking refugee protection in the U.S. during the specified period.

AI Insight: Area chart of cumulative asylum applications and decisions in the United States from 2020 to 2024, where a widening gap between the two lines illustrates a significant and growing processing backlog., This area chart visualizes the disparity between cumulative asylum applications and first-instance decisions in the United States from the beginning of 2020 to 2024. The x-axis represents the years, and the y-axis shows the cumulative total number of cases.

Two primary data series are shown: the top line represents the total number of asylum applications filed, while the bottom line represents the total number of decisions made. The area between these two lines is shaded, visually representing the growing backlog of pending cases. The data shows that while both cumulative applications and decisions have increased over the period, the rate of applications has consistently and significantly outpaced the rate of decisions. This has resulted in a substantial widening of the gap year after year. The chart includes annotations that measure this gap in days, highlighting the increase in the average processing time for an asylum application to receive a first-instance decision. The key takeaway is the mounting pressure on the U.S. asylum system, evidenced by a backlog that has grown to its largest point by 2024.

Recognition Rates

AI Insight: Horizontal bar chart of the 2024 refugee recognition rate in the United States by country of origin, where rates for the top 10 countries with the most decisions range from 4.2% to 37.0%., This horizontal bar chart presents the refugee recognition rates in the United States for 2024, focusing on the 10 countries of origin with the highest number of total asylum decisions. The chart is ordered by the total volume of decisions, not by the recognition rate.

Statistical Analysis: The data reveals a significant disparity in outcomes for asylum seekers from different countries. The refugee recognition rate, calculated as the number of recognized cases divided by the total number of decisions, varies widely across the top 10 countries, ranging from a low of 4.16% to a high of 37.0%. The median recognition rate among this cohort is 11.7%, with an average of 15.9%.

The analysis is based on a large dataset, with the total number of decisions per country ranging from 78,064 to 452,712. The data also distinguishes between refugee status and complementary protection. For these nationalities, grants of complementary protection are minimal, as the ‘Total Recognition Rate’ (which includes both) is nearly identical to the ‘Refugee Recognition Rate’, indicating that a formal refugee status grant is the primary form of protection awarded.

AI Insight: Bar chart of Refugee Recognition Rate for United States of America nationals in 2024, where rates in the top 10 countries of asylum by total decisions range from 0% to 14%., This vertical bar chart displays the Refugee Recognition Rate for asylum seekers from the United States of America for the year 2024. The data is presented for the top 10 countries of asylum, which are ordered based on the total number of asylum decisions made, not by the recognition rate itself.

Statistical Analysis: The chart visualizes data for 10 countries. The key variable, Refugee Recognition Rate, has a mean of 5.93% and ranges from a minimum of 0% to a maximum of 14.0%. This indicates that, on average, a small percentage of asylum claims from U.S. nationals are successful in receiving refugee status in these countries. The total number of decisions processed by these countries varies significantly, from 145 to 12,968, showing a heavy concentration of applications in a few specific nations.

Context: The Refugee Recognition Rate is defined as the percentage of cases granted formal refugee status. An associated metric, the Total Recognition Rate (which includes complementary protection), is higher, with an average of 10.7% and a range up to 27.6%. This suggests that some applicants who are not granted full refugee status may receive other forms of international protection. The overall low recognition rates are typical for applicants from countries generally considered safe, where asylum claims are often based on very specific individual circumstances rather than widespread conflict or persecution.

Solutions

Amidst a global landscape of protracted displacement, the data on durable solutions in the United States of America offers a notable positive development. While the path to a lasting solution remains out of reach for millions worldwide, a significant acceleration in the provision of resettlement, naturalization, and other stable outcomes in the United States marks a hopeful trend. Behind these stark numbers is a story of recovery and renewed commitment following profound global disruption.

The data reveals that from 2019 to 2022, a persistent gap existed between the number of people newly recognized as needing international protection and those who found a durable solution. This challenge was severely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw solutions plummet to just 9,586 in 2020, a steep decline from the 27,501 provided in the preceding year. As the world slowly emerged from the pandemic, a recovery began, but new protection needs continued to outpace the availability of lasting solutions.

A significant turning point occurred in 2023. For the first time in the period under review, the number of durable solutions provided (75,043) surpassed the number of individuals granted refugee status or a complementary form of protection (64,068). This shift indicates a substantial scaling-up of processing capacity and a concerted effort to address pandemic-related backlogs.

This trend accelerated dramatically into 2024, with solutions surging to 105,531, while new recognitions stood at 35,701 for the same period. This constitutes an eleven-fold increase in solutions from the nadir in 2020. While the reasons are multifaceted, this reversal underscores the immense impact that enhanced political will, streamlined processing, and dedicated resources can have on changing the trajectory for refugees, moving them from precariousness to permanence. It serves as a critical example of how solution pathways can be expanded, offering a glimmer of hope that can and must be replicated globally.

AI Insight: Column chart of solutions for forcibly displaced people in the United States of America from 2019 to 2024, where the number of solutions shows a dramatic increase from 2021 onwards after a significant dip in 2020., This column chart presents the trend in durable solutions for forcibly displaced persons in the United States of America for the years 2019 through 2024. The data indicates a significant upward trend in recent years, recovering from a sharp decline in 2020.

Statistical analysis shows the average number of solutions per category was 6,875 in 2019. In 2020, this figure dropped sharply to 2,396, a decrease likely attributable to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on processing and travel. A recovery began in 2021 with an average of 3,419 solutions. The trend then accelerated dramatically, with the average number of solutions jumping to 10,992 in 2022, followed by a further increase to 18,761 in 2023, and reaching a peak of 26,383 in 2024. This steep climb from 2022 onwards suggests a significant ramp-up in processing capacity, the clearing of pandemic-related backlogs, or changes in policy.

AI Insight: Dual-line chart of annual refugee recognitions and available solutions in the United States of America from 2019 to 2024, where the number of solutions surpassed recognitions in 2023 and this gap widened significantly in 2024., This dual-line chart compares the annual number of refugee recognitions with the number of available durable solutions in the United States of America for the period 2019 to 2024.

Footnotes in the title likely define the terms as follows: a. Refugee recognitions include individuals granted refugee status or a complementary form of protection. b. Solutions refer to durable solutions such as resettlement, voluntary repatriation, and local integration (naturalization).

The chart displays two trend lines: ‘Recognitions’ (blue) and ‘Solutions’ (teal), with the area between them shaded to highlight the gap.

Detailed Analysis by Year:

2019: Refugee recognitions stood at 44,577, significantly outpacing the 27,501 available solutions.
2020: Both metrics saw a sharp decline, likely due to the global pandemic. Recognitions fell to 18,177, while solutions dropped to 9,586.
2021: A slow recovery began, with recognitions at 20,590 and solutions at 13,675. The gap between new protection needs and available solutions remained wide.
2022: A substantial recovery occurred for both. Recognitions reached 46,629, and solutions rose to 43,966, bringing the two metrics nearly to parity.
2023: This marked a significant turning point. For the first time in the observed period, available solutions (75,043) surpassed the number of refugee recognitions (64,068).
2024: The trend accelerated dramatically. Solutions surged to 105,531, while recognitions were recorded at 35,701. The 2024 data may be partial for the year.

Summary and Key Insights:

From 2019 to 2022, the number of people granted protection consistently exceeded the durable solutions provided. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe dip in both activities in 2020 and 2021. However, since 2022, there has been a strong upward trend, particularly in the provision of solutions. The crossover in 2023 and the widening gap in 2024 indicate a positive shift, suggesting an increasing capacity to provide long-term solutions for refugees in the United States.